Thread extracting attachment



0a. 15, 1940. A 5mm 2,21,123

THREAD EXTRACTING ATTACHMENT Filed March 26, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR LOYD SMITH 5. BY

' fiEY Oct 15, 1940.

,A." SMITH THREAD Bxmc'rms. ATTACHMENT Filed larch 26. 19:55 2Sheets-Sheet 2 v mmmmmmmmmwmmmmmmmmmmwuv INVENTOR l m/0' A SMITH,

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES 2,218,123 THREADEXTRACTING'ATTACHMENT Loyd A. Smith, La Grange, Ga., assignor toCallaway Mills, La Grange, Ga., a corporation of Georgia g ApplicationMarch 26, 1935, Serial No. 13,104 V 30 Claims. (Cl. 112-79) Thisinvention relates to tufting machines, and especially those adapted toform tufts in -spaced groups such as are found in candle-wick bedspreadsand other work.

An object of this invention is to provide anattachment for pulling outsomeof the tufts automatically and in regular order.

Another object is to provide a device of this class which may be appliedto existing tufting machines.

A further object is to provide such a device especially adapted formachines capable of automatically forming candleewick spreads and tufts,which are unequally spaced; so that at least soffie 3 of the threadsconnecting the more widely spaced tufts may be automatically extractedwhereby the necessity for hand operation is eliminated.

Referring to the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side view of one embodiment ofthis invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the jaw members 56 removed from themachine.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the jaw members for I gripping the thread tobe pulled out.

' Fig. 4 shows the gripping members after they have been swung laterallyfar enough to pull out the gripped thread from the work.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the clutching and unclutching mechanism forthe needle bar.

Fig. 6 is a side view showing the grippers in co-- operation with thethread.

Fig. 7 represents one embodiment of the finished work or product of thismachine.

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1 but with someparts shown more in detail than others.

Fig. 9 illustrates the mechanism for actuating the pawl and ratchet andthe cam for causing the clutch parts to be engaged.

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a right end portion of a part of thedevice shown in Figs. 1 and 8.

In my prior copending and abandoned application Serial Number 709,552filed February 3rd,

1934, for Tufting machine of which this application is a continuation inpart has been described an attachment for a tufting machine enabling theneedle bar to be unclutched from its actuating mechanism in response tooperation of the machine and while continuing operation of the workfeeding means in order that. non-uniformly spaced tufts such as arefound in candle-wick bedspreads and the like may be formed.

This invention relates to an improvement on the device of this priorapplication whereby the threads connecting the widely spaced tufts maybe automatically extracted without the necessity of doing so by handupon completion of the work by the machine.

In the drawings the numerals below 43 refer to correspondinglynumbered-parts in said previous 5 application. a In thispriorapplication a cross-head 13 is freely movable on the needle bar l4except when the same is connected for moving the needle bar by means ofthe latch l5 engaging the catch I 8. 10 An oscillating bar I! works thepawl which is pivotally secured thereto at 2|, for engagement with theratchet 22, which is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as shown inFig. 1. Alocking member 23 engages the ratchet to prevent its ro- 16tation when the pawl ill is not in engagement with the ratchet teeth. Aspring 24 maintains the members 20 and 23 in engagement with theratchet. A presser foot bar 32 carries the presser foot 33 on its lowerend portion. 20

A slidablebar 21 is supported at its left end by the bar 28 having a pinengaging the slotted portion 29. The right end of the bar 2,! is slottedand supported on the ratchet shaft 45. A spring 38 slides the bar to theright into engagement with the cam 25 on the ratchet shaft 45, which cammoves the bar 21 ,to the left in Fig. 1. Fixed on the bar 21 is adownwardly extending projection or finger 36 shaped to engage'a lateralprojection on the latch l5 for the purpose of holding 0 the latch out ofengagement with the catch Hi. When the bar 21 has been'slid to the leftby its cam the finger 36 is moved out of the way so that the latch maythen engage the catch IS. The spring 31 holds the latch I5 against thefinger 36 or against the catch I6. The spring 31 is attached to someupstanding projection as illustrated at a height about midway betweenthe uppermost and lowermost positions of the latch. The spring 38 shouldbe stronger than the spring 40 31. A spring 4| attached to the needlebar holds the needle bar up after it has been released by the latch.

In operation the continually reciprocating cross head l3 oscillates thebar l1 and at each downward movement of the pawl 20 the ratchet 22 isturned an angular distance equal to the space between the teeth. Afterturning the required angular distance the cam for actuating the bar 21moves this bar to the left, moving the finger 36 to the left and out of'the way of the latch so that the latch may be pressed by the spring 31into engagement with the catch l6. Preferably the latch and catch are inengagement fortwo strokes after which the bar 27 is released by its camand allowed to be moved to the right by the spring: 38 so that thelinger 36 keeps the latch from engagement with the catch I6. The latchand catch function as clutch members. their engagement and disengagementbeing obtainable automatically in response to the operation of themachine by means of the slow motion mechanism comprising the ratchet 22.So long as the needle bar is rendered inactive by the finger 36 holdingthe latch out of engagement with the needle bar. the long stitch isbeing formed and the goods is being advanced in successive steps by theusual feed dog mechanism below the work support. The size or pitch ofthe teeth on the ratchet determines the length of the long stitch andthe shape of the cam actuating the bar 21 determines how long the bar isheld to the left and also how long the bar is held to the right by thespring 33.

The shaft l0, crank II, and connecting rod l2, continuously reciprocatethe cross head 13. When the finger 36 is moved far enough to the rightfor it to engage the lateral projection shown in Fig. 10 as being on thelatch l5, the inclined right edge of this finger 36 shown in Figs. 1 and8 causes the latch to be moved away from the catch l6 as the latchrises.

The needle bar I4 is guided by the bearing 39, as described in saidaforementioned application.

In the drawing the work support 43 is provided with the usual feed dog44 for feeding the work through the machine during the time the needlebar is unclutched from its actuating mechanism. The shaft 45 carryingthe ratchet 22 has keyed thereon a cam 46 engaging the yoke 41 pivotedat 49. One arm 48 of said yoke is elongated to engage the-cross-head 56which is reciprocated by the yoke and cam. Below this cross-head 56 isan adjustable stop 5| on the rod 52 so that on downward movement of thearm 48 the rod 52 is moved down. To the lower end portion of the rod 52is secured one end of the bell crank lever 53, whose other arm 54constitutes one of the thread gripper portions.

This bell crank lever 53 is pivoted at 55 within the axis of the otherthread gripping arm 56. A stop 51 on the arm 56 engages the presser footto limit movement of the arm 56 to the right in Fig. 3. The arm 56 hasits pivoted portion 58 extending within the presser foot as shown inFig. 1. At the other end of the pivot 58 is mounted an adjustable screw59, the head of which engages the leaf spring 66 fastened to the presserfoot 33. The spring 66 is thus a friction device pressing the gripperarm 56 against the presser foot. I

The rod 52 is provided on its upper end portion with a spring 62cooperating at one end with the cross-head 50 and at its upper end withthe adjustable nut 6|. As the arm 48 moves up in Fig. 1 the cross-head56 slides on the rod 52 compressing the spring 62 until such time as thestrength of the spring 62 is suflicient to over come the inertia of thefriction device 66.

The grippers 54 and 56 are provided with cooperative lug surfaces 64 and63 respectively. The gripper arm 54 is provided with a wedge shapedelongated portion 65 which is adapted to push the thread to one side andout of the way as the arm 54 is moved to the right in Fig. 3.

As the long stitch shown in Fig. 6 is approach-- ing its completion, andbefore the needle'moves into the work, the cam 46 moves the gripping jaw54 to the left in Fig. 3 causing the thread' ilszoi belengaged by thejaw members as shown in After being engaged the needle descends throughthe work and is drawn upward for the completion of the tuft or loop andits subsequent cutting as is well known in the art. After being cut thepair of grippers with the thread engaged between them is then swung tothe left in ,Fig. 3 far enough to pull the thread from the work at eachend. The pause in the movement of the grippers after the strand hasbeen. engaged may be effected either by the shape of the cam 46 or bycontinued upward movement of the arm 46 against the action of the spring62 until the pressure of the spring is suflicient to overcome thefriction of the gripping member 56 on the presser foot.

From the position shown in Fig. 4 in which the strand has been pulledout of the work, continued movement of the cam 46 results in loweringthe arm 48 causing the rod 52 to move downward and swinging the arms 53and 54 in a counterclockwise direction as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

At first the gripping member 56 does not move with the member 54 butremains stationary for a time suflicient to allow the pulled out threadto be released and fall. After the gripper 54 has moved a certainangular distance its continued movement causes the arm 56 to follow inthe counterclockwise motion until the stop 51 engages the presser foot.

The early counterclockwise. movement of the arms 53 and 54 is free ofthe arm 56 due to the separation of the lug surfaces 63 and 64, butafter the arms 53 and 54 have moved a certain angular distance, theselug surfaces 63 and 64 engage with the result that the gripping member56 is moved in the counterclockwise direction with the arms 53 and 54,by engagement of the lug surfaces 63 and 64.

As the gripping member 54 approaches the needle the wedge shape portion65 engages the strand to push it to one side toward the needle. Afterthe arm 54'has moved beyond the needle to the position shown in Fig. 3the strand is pulled by the moving work into a position between thegripping portions 54 and 56 ready to be engaged as the arm 56-is againmoved in a clockwise direction in out each long stitch as contemplatedby the device illustrated it will be understood that the cam 46 and itsmovement may be so constructed as to cause only certain of the longstitches to be withdrawn if desired.

While this invention has been illustrated in connection 'with a tuftingmachine of the type adapted to form candle-wick tufts, it will beu1iderstood that it is applicable to other types of tuftlng machines andis even susceptible of application to machines inwhich the tufts areuniformly spaced, certain of the connecting threads being withdrawnaccording to the shape and manner of actuation of the extractors orgrippers, as will be apparent to one skilled in the art after anappreciation of this invention and its purposes.

While the embodiment illustrated is adapted for attachment to existingmachines, it will be understood that this invention is susceptible ofembodiment in other forms. By; changing the pressure of the spring 60and also the pressure on the spring 62 by the nut 6| it will beunderstood that the amount of friction on the gripping arm 56 can bechanged as well as the amount of spring pressure necessary to overcomethat friction, and in this way the timing of the move- Fig. 3. Insteadof pulling I I ment of the pair of jaws away from the presser foot maybe the arm 48.

Instead of having the needle'bar moved upwardly by a spring as shown inmy pri Jr application Serial Number 709,552 it will be understood thatby making the cross-head l3 substantially contiguous the catch l6 whenthe latch i5 is engaged, that the cross-head II may effect both anupward as well as downward movement of the needle bar l4.

If desired, in order to reduce the shock of impact of the stop 51against the presser foot 83 the abutment 5| may be yieldably mountedupon a stiff spring not shown.

The short portion of the presser foot on the left side in Figs. 3 and 4and on the right side in Figs. 1 and 6, prevents the needle from pushingvaried with respect to the position of .work down into the throat plate.

I claim:

1. In a -tufting machine comprising a needle,v

actuating mechanism therefor, a work support and work feeding means, theimprovement which comprises a pivotal latch carried by saidactuatmachine operation, said last mentioned meansincluding a pawl andratchet located adjacent the needle and its actuating mechanism, and athread extractor actuated by said pawl and ratchet.

3. In a tufting machine comprising a needle,

actuating mechanism therefor, a work support.

and work feeding means, the improvement which comprises an attachmentlocated adjacent said needle and its actuating mechanism and beingadapted to regularly and automatically interrupt movement of the needleduring some of the cycles of the needle actuating mechanism, and athread extractor pivoted to the presser foot for pulling out some of thetufts being formed.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with a presser foot, of a threadextractor pivoted adjacent thereto, an actuator for the extractor, a

friction device for said extractor, a yieldable means for cooperationwith said actuator and extractor, and means for adjusting the relationbetween said friction device and yieldable means to control the timingof said extractor with respect to said actuator. I

5. .In a tufting machine, loop forming means, thread'extracting meanscomprising a pair of grippers, a friction device'securedto one of saidgrippers, an actuator for the other gripper, yieldable means in saidactuator whereby the friction device may delay movement of said pair ofgrippers, and a lost motion connection between said grippers forrelative angular movement.

6. A tufting machine comprising, a needle, actuating mechanism therefor,a work' support, means to regularly and automatically interrupt movementof the needle during some of the cycles of the needle actuatingmechanism, and a thread extractor actuated intimed relation tothe'needle actuating mechanism, said thread extractor including a pairof grippers pivoted below the head out of the way of the work of saidmachine'and close to the work support. 7. A tufting machine comprising,a needle, actuating mechanism therefor. a work support,

means to regularly and automatically interrupt movement of the needleduring some of the cycles extractor actuated in timed relation to theneedle actuating mechanism, a presser foot, and a support therefor, saidthread extractor including a pair of grippers pivotally supported infront of said presser' foot support.

9. A tufting machine comprising, a needle, actuating mechanism therefor,a work support, means to regularly and automatically interrupt movementof the needle during some of the cycles of the needle actuating mechanisa thread extractor actuated in timed relation to the needle actuatingmechanism, a' timing cam for the thread extractor, and additional meansfor controlling the timing of said thread extractor.

10.-A tufting machine comprising, actuating mechanism therefor, a workmeans to regularly and automatically interrupt movement of the needleduring some of of the needle actuating mechanism,-a thread extractoractuated in timed relation to the needle actuating mechanism, saidthread extractor in-' cluding a pair of grippers, and actuating meanstherefor located substantially below the top of the head of saidmachine.

a needle, support,

the cycles 40 11. A tufting' machine comprising, a needle,

actuating mechanism therefor, a work support, means to regularlyandautomatically interrupt movement of the needle during some of thecycles of the needle actuating mechanism, a thread extractor actuated intimed relation to the needle actuating mechanism, said needleactuatingmechanism including a needle bar, and a spring engaging saidneedle bar to hold it in raised position. r

. 12. In a tufting mechanism, a tufting sewing machine comprising areciprocatory needle,

means to reciprocate the needle and then hold it elevated, a yarn clamparranged near the path of travel of the needle andshiftable transverselyof the line of work, said clamp comprising-a pair of jaws, one jawhaving a relatively long tapered tail.

13. A tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanism thereforin the machine head, a work support, work feeding means, said needleactuating mechanism comprising a drive shaft, means for rectilinearlydriving a member from said shaft, and means for clutching andunclutching said needle to and fromsaid member,

said last mentioned means being automatically operated in responsetooperation of the machine, said clutching and unclutching beingaccomplished by a cam located close to said needle and below the top ofthe'machine head.

14. A tuftingmachine comprising a needle, actuating mechanism therefor,a work support, work feeding means, said needle actuating mechanismcomprising a drive shaft, means for rectilinearly driving a member fromsaid shaft, and

15 of the needle actuating mechanism, a thread 4- means for clutchingand unclutching said needle to and from said member, said last mentionedmeans being automatically operated in response to operation of themachine, said clutching and unclutching being accomplished by a slowmotion cam actuating a slidable cam.

15. A tufting machine comprising work feeding means, a needle, arotatable drive shaft for actuating the needle, a crank and connectingrod drivenby said shaft, 9. cross-head driven by said connecting rod, apawl and ratchet driven by said cross-head, a rotatable cam driven bysaid ratchet. a shiftable cam operated bysaid rotatable cam, a latchcarried by said cross-head and movable by said shiftable cam to engageand disengage the needle with said cross-head.

V 16. In a tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanismtherefor, a work support and work feeding means, the improvement whichcomprises a pivotal latch carried by said actuating mechanism andautomatic means adapted to engage and disengage said latch and'needle intimed relation to said actuating mechanism.

1'7. In a tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanismtherefor, a work support and work feeding means, the improvement whichcomprises means for automatically unclutching the needle from saidactuating mechanism at regular intervals in the operation of themachine, and a spring for holding the needle in a position in which itis withdrawn from the work while un-'- clutched from said actuatingmechanism.

18. In a tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanismtherefor, a work support, the improvement which comprises means forautomatically unclutching the needle from said actuating mechanism atregular intervals in the machine operation, said last mentioned meansincluding a shiftable cam located adjacent said needle and its actuatingmechanism.

19. In a tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanismtherefor, a work support, the improvement which comprises means forautomatically unclutching the needle from said actuating mechanism atregular intervals in the machine operation, said last mentioned meansincluding a pawl and ratchet located adjacent the needle and itsactuating mechanism.

20. In a tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanismtherefor, a work support, the improvement which comprises means forautomatically unclutching the needle from said actuating mechanism atregular intervals in the machine operation, said last mentioned meansincluding a shiftable cam located adjacent said needle and its actuatingmechanism and a. pawl and ratchet also located adjacent said needlemechanism for shifting said cam.

21. In a tufting machine comprising a needle, actuating mechanismtherefor, a work support, work feeding means, the improvement whichcomprises means for-automatically unclutching the needle from saidactuating mechanism at regular intervals in the means for changing thetiming of said automatic unclutching means, said timing changing meansincluding a replaceable mechanism independent of the work feeding means.

22. A tufting machinecomprising a needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanisnifor the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocatingmember from said shaft, and anattachment for automatically engaging anddisengaging said needle bar with and from cating member in timed machineoperation, and

said reciprocating member in timed relation to the rotation of saidshaft, said attachment being located in front of and below the top ofthe machine head.

23. A tufting machine comprising a needle, a 5 needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocatingmember from said shaft, means for automatically engaging and disengagingthe needle bar with and from said reciprocating member in timed relationto the rotation of said shaft, and non-frictional and positive means forholding the needle bar when disengaged in a position with the needlewithdrawn from the work.-

24. A tufting machine comprising a. needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuat- -ing said reciprocatingmember from said shaft,

means for automatically engaging and disengaging the needle bar with andfrom said reciprocating member in timed relation to the rotation of saidshaft, and non-frictional and positive means for holding the needle barwhen disengaged in a position with the needle withdrawn from the work,said last mentioned means acting continually on the needle bar andtending to always hold it with the needle withdrawn from the workirrespective of whether said needle bar is operating.

25. A tufting machine comprising a needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocatingmember from said shaft, means for automatically engaging and disengagingthe needle bar with and from said reciprorelation to the rotation ofsaid shaft, and non-frictional and positive means for holding the needlebar when disengaged in a position with the needle withdrawn from thework, said last mentioned means including a spring acting to yieldablyretain the needle withdrawn from the work.

26. A tufting machine comprising a needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuat ing said reciprocatingmember from said shaft, means for automatically engaging and disengagingthe needle ,bar with and from said reciprocating member in timedrelation to the rotation of said shaft, a guide-bar extending upwardlyfrom the machine head and a projection on said needle bar cooperatingwith the guide bar above the machine head to prevent the needle fromturning.

27. A tufting machine comprising a needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocatingmember from said shaft, means for automatically engaging and disengag-65 ing the needle bar with and from said reciprocating member in timedrelation to the rotation of said shaft, the means for automaticallyengaging and disengaging the needle bar and reciprocating memberincluding a reciprocating hook 70 movable into engagement with aprojection on the needle bar.

28. A tufting machine comprising a needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machine75 head, a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocatingmember from said shaft,

means for automatically engaging and disengaging the needle bar with andfrom said reciprocating member in timed relation to the rotation of saidshaft, the means for automatically engaging and disengaging the needlebar and reciprocating member including a reciprocating hook movable intoengagement with a projection on the needle bar, a spring tending'tomove-the hook into engagement with the said projection on the needlebar, and a shiftable means for hold ing said hook away from engagementwith the needle bar projection.

29. A tufting machine comprising a needle, a

needle bar, actuating mechanism for the needle bar including a rotatableshaft in the machine head, a reciprocating member, means for actuating.said reciprocating member from said shaft,

means for automatically engaging and disengaging the needle bar with andfrom said reciprocating member in timed relation to the rotation of saidshaft, the means for automatically engaging and disengaging the needlebar and reciprocating member including a rotating cam and a barlongitudinally movable when engaged and disengaged by said cam.

30. A tuiting machine comprising a needle, a needle bar, actuatingmechanism for the needle bar including a rotatable shaft in the machinehead, a reciprocating member, means for actuating said reciprocatingmember from said shaft, means for automatically engaging and disengagingthe needle bar with and from said reciprocating member in'tlmed relationto the rotation of said shaft, said automatic means for engaging anddisengaging the needle bar and reciprocating member including anattachment to one'side of the machine head and having a slow motionmechanism and cam vlocated below the top of the machine headi LOYD A.SMITH.

